KHACHATUR ABOVYAN ARMENIAN STATE PEDAGOGICAL UNIVERSITY

May is associated with glorious victories and has great historical significance for the Armenian people. May 9 is a special day for Armenians; it marks the victory of the Soviet Union over Nazi Germany in the Great Patriotic War, the anniversary of the liberation of Shushi, and the historic momentum when the Defense Army of the Republic of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) was formed.

As usual, Armenian State Pedagogical University joined the annual celebrations on the occasion of the triple holiday. ASPU students and members of the academic and teaching staff led by Rector Ruben Mirzakhanyan first laid a wreath at the memorial to Artsakh war heroes which stands in the yard of the University and then marched to Haghtanak (Victory) Park at the top of Cascade in Yerevan.

Arriving at the park, ASPU representatives laid flowers and a wreath at the Eternal Flame and bowed their heads in a moment of silence for the victims.

Prof. Tigran Petrosyants, Head of the ASPU Academic Library and a participant of the Artsakh war, also joined the march held on the occasion of Victory and Peace Day.

“May is a special month for Armenians. We had numerous victories in May, starting from the battle of Avarayr to 1992 when the historic capital of Artsakh, Shushi, was eventually liberated after remaining in occupation for some 200 years,” the professor said. He expressed hope that the Armenian people will be able to honour all those who sacrificed their lives to win the war.

Tigran Petrosyants also highlighted the annual procession organized by Armenian State Pedagogical University on the occasion of May holidays. He added that future teachers must have a strong sense of patriotism and transfer it to the next generations. “We should be able to value our previous victories to be able to celebrate the new ones.”